Structural racism and intimate partner violence perpetration among racially diverse men transitioning into fatherhood: an anti-racist approach to IPV prevention

Background: Young couples transitioning into parenthood are at elevated risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), in part, due to the social and economic stressors associated with this critical time. Interpersonal racial discrimination is a known risk factor for male-to-female IPV perpetration, however few studies have examined this relationship among men transitioning to fatherhood. Similarly, structural racism acknowledges how inequitable systems reinforce racial discrimination; yet, few studies have investigated whether structural racism relates to the discrimination-IPV perpetration association. This study examined relationships among structural racism, racial discrimination, stress, and IPV perpetration among racially diverse men transitioning into fatherhood. Methods: Using data from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey, a structural racism was assessed using a latent variable with four indicators: racial residential segregation, education inequity, income inequity, and employment inequity. Individual-level prospective data were collected during 2007–2011 from 296 men in expectant couples recruited from obstetrics, and ultrasound clinics in Connecticut. Structural equation models were conducted to investigate longitudinal associations among structural racism, discrimination, stress, optimism and emotional IPV perpetration. Results: Compared to white men, Black men were more likely to experience structural racism (B = 0.95, p <.001). Structural racism was associated with more racial discrimination (B = 0.45, p <.05), more stress (B = 0.40, p <.05), and less optimism (B=-0.50, p <.001). Racial discrimination was associated with more stress (B = 0.23, p <.05) and marginally associated with a greater likelihood to perpetrate emotional violence against a female partner (B = 0.23, p =.06). Stress was associated with a greater likelihood to perpetrate emotional violence against a female partner (B = 0.31, p =.05). The indirect path from structural racism to IPV perpetration via racial discrimination and stress was marginally significant (B = 0.05, p =.07). Conclusions: This study provides evidence of the ways in which structural racism in housing, education, income, and employment can contribute to men’s use of aggression and violence against a female partner. Future intervention efforts to reduce emotional IPV perpetration could benefit from addressing structural racism.